It is well known in the meteorological and HVAC installation industries that the attic is a source of dramatic energy loss in many homes. The thinner walls of an attic allow for rapid heat transfer and provide a large mass of unused airflow. An attic zipper is an excellent way to combat this. These are hatch covers that minimize heat loss through the attic and consequently reduce monthly heating and cooling costs. In this article, we talk about insulating properties of attic tents as well as considerations for installation.
Air Filtration
Attic zippers block air from filtering between the attic and the rest of your home. Temperature control systems work by creating pressure gradients which can result in outside air entering the house or conditioned air being forced out. Sealing access points in your house, therefore, reduces this airflow and insulates the home, making it easier to maintain the desired temperature.
Radiant Barriers
Radiant heat escapes through the attic entrance and the hatch covers act as a barrier against this heat. A cover with an R-value of 3.2 and a reduction in the airflow by 70% makes it easy to quickly recoup your costs immediately after installation.
Installation
Installing an attic zipper is quite easy. To begin, measure the size of your attic’s entrance point. The chosen cover should be as close as possible to the size of the opening. But because they are flexible, there is room for a margin of error of up to 2 or 3. Also, keep in mind the collapsible stairs that provide access to the attic. These will need to fit through the hatch covers as well.
A staple gun can be used to pin the tent cover to the opening. To prevent airflow, the seams should then be sealed with silicone caulk. On the other hand, a knee door access point will require a different installation process with a vertically installed hatch cover and notably a larger tent cover.
Scuttle hole access points have a panel that must be lifted and pushed to the side to enter the attic. With this sort of entrance, the required tent will be much larger than with other types as the tent must be large enough to also fit the panel which must be placed on the plywood of the floor jolts. Because of these complications, when installing an attic zipper the most reliable way is to call a reputable contractor.